Suppose you are drinking coffee at a neighborhood café, leisurely checking your email on a laptop on the network’s public Wi-Fi. You get an email message that asks for bank account verification and asks you to provide account information. The message looks convincing but it’s instead a phishing message meant to steal your information. Phishing, malware, ransomware, and other web threats exist everywhere, and online criminals improve and perfect their methods of attack to exploit unsuspecting victims as time goes on.
According to studies, these threats are widespread. Cybersecurity Ventures says that by 2025, the costs of global cybercrime will reach $10.5 trillion annually. Internet threats are becoming more advanced and devastating each day. They can cause a lot of harm to individuals and organizations as well. It is mandatory to be aware of the common internet threats and take necessary steps to prevent them. This will save your online presence from unwanted situations and provide a safe environment for all your personal and official activities.
Top 10 most common types of online security threats
Online threats are manifold and they become increasingly complex. Here are the top 10 types of online threats you need to protect yourself from:
Phishing attacks
Phishing attacks aim to trick users into sharing personal information by posing as legitimate sources. Examples include emails or messages prompting the user to click on a link. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, phishing was one of the most prevalent types of cybercrime in 2023, with more than 298,000 reported occurrences.
Some of the steps that you can take to defend yourself from phishing emails or sites include checking email addresses, ignoring unsolicited links, and using tools such as WOT, which offers real-time warnings for potential phishing sites via its anti-phishing email protection feature.
Phishing methods also change regularly. They make use of different forms of social engineering attacks that take advantage of anticipated human behavior to compromise important information. One example is spear-phishing, targeted at individuals through a highly personalized message, making it more likely that they will fall for it.
Malware
Malware (which stands for “malicious software”) is a broad term describing a variety of harmful programs, such as viruses, spyware, Trojan horses, and crypto-malware, that are designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to your computer. Malware is becoming a large problem, with more and more individuals and large corporations becoming victims of this problem. Unusual system behavior and frequent system crashes can be signs of infection.
These more common forms include ransomware, which extorts a payment to unlock an infected system, for example, of your files and refuse to give you the key to decrypt them until you pay; spyware, which secretly follows your computer activity; and adware, which plasters ads all over your system. Keeping your system up to date is the first line of defense and, along with this, a good antivirus solution should be installed. Scans should be done regularly and monitored.
Ransomware
Ransomware locks up a user’s files and demands payment to get them back, a type of malware that has cost billions worldwide. Chainalysis reported that in 2023 alone, payments for ransomware victims eclipsed $1 billion for the first time, the highest ever recorded, and it is affecting companies of all sizes. Sudden inaccessibility of files and ransom notes are clear indicators of an attack.
Simple measures such as regular data backups and security patches can help to reduce the risk of ransomware while clicking on links in suspicious emails or randomly downloading software can easily provide an entry point for a ransomware attack. More sophisticated ransomware campaigns can be stopped in their tracks by endpoint protection solutions such as email gateways and network and web filtering, which spot and block ransomware just before it can encrypt files.
Spam
Spam is defined as unsolicited bulk messages. While people often view spam as an annoyance, it can be used to deliver malware or can be used to verify email addresses, which can then be used for malicious purposes. In 2023, a substantial portion of emails, 45.6% to be exact, were spam according to a report by Mailmodo. If you are receiving large amounts of unsolicited email, this is an indication of a harmful issue.
Good spam filters can keep these spam emails out of your inbox. People should never reply to a spam email because it confirms to spammers that the email address is active. If people are aware that spam emails can contain phishing emails, they will be better equipped to spot these and prevent attacks from being successful.
Password leaks & attacks
A password leak is when your login credentials are exposed during a data breach and can then be used by an attacker to try to get into your personal or business account without your permission. According to Security.org, more than two-thirds of people are still using the same password for many of their accounts. Such a habit is not recommended and can put your online security at risk. If you see an alert about compromised accounts, it is one of the first big red flags.
Having a strong, unique password and enabling multi-factor authentication are the best at-rest defenses against password leaks and attacks. An easy way to keep passwords long and random is to frequently rotate them, while password managers provide off-the-shelf encryption and storage of these complex passwords. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, users should be vigilant about monitoring for public data breaches that reveal their credentials to the open internet.
WOT’s Data Breach Monitoring scans the web for compromised data 24/7. The user is notified as soon as the service detects their personal information available online. This helps users identify and rectify the situation to prevent further damage.
Computer viruses
Viruses are kind of the oldest form of malware, beasts that infect by embedding copies of themselves into other computer programs. They corrupt data, give unauthorized users access, and slow systems to a halt. Based on a recent report by The Business Research Company, the antivirus software market size has been growing year by year; it will expand from $4.09 billion in 2023 to $4.23 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5%.
The sure signs of a virus are unknown pop-ups and slow down of your system. To maintain your system virus-free, you should install antivirus software and keep it updated. Avoid downloading suspicious attachments, clicking on unknown links, and visiting unknown websites. As antivirus software works in real-time, every download or system activity is scanned for viral signatures.
WOT’s Safe Browsing adds an extra line of defense against dangerous websites. If your antivirus software allows it, Safe Browsing can flag potentially dangerous websites before they load and block access to malware sites, fraudulent or deceptive sites, and sites that attempt to obtain user login details.
Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi can be a hazardous place, exposing users to man-in-the-middle attacks, unencrypted data collection, and more. According to reports from Kaspersky, 25% of all public hotspots have weak security. If you’re not sure what you’re looking at or it doesn’t look encrypted, do not connect.
Don’t use public Wi-Fi for doing financial transactions, and use a VPN to encrypt your connection. A VPN will stop an attacker from snooping on your traffic. When using public Wi-Fi, don’t log in to sensitive accounts, or send any personal information.
WOT has a Wi-Fi Scanning feature that can detect unsecured or potentially unsafe Wi-Fi connections and warn you about data interception so that your vital information is secure from hackers when using public Wi-Fi or connecting to networks you don’t know the details about.
DDoS attacks
A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack overwhelms a system with too much traffic, making it unusable. Websites and service providers can be frozen in their tracks. DDoS attacks increased more than 200 percent in the last year, rising from just over 1,000 in 2022 to more than 2,100 in 2023 according to F5 Labs. The onslaught is expected to rise as more and more activities are now done online.
Sudden slowdowns and crashes are signs of an attack, and monitoring the network and paid DDoS protection services can mitigate the impact of that traffic. Firewalls and intrusion detection systems, meanwhile, can detect and block incoming malicious traffic, while distributed servers and load balancing can help spread out traffic and keep websites functional.
Trojan horse
Trojan horses appear to be ordinary software, which allows the attacker to use the system remotely, after its installation. They normally lead to theft of information or compromise the system. According to Astra Security, Trojans represent 58% of all malware detected on computer systems.
Automatic installs of software you didn’t prompt, or unwanted system changes that you didn’t initiate are common warning signs that you have a Trojan. Make sure that you download software only from trusted sources, and run malware detection tools to avoid Trojan horses. System scans and continual system monitoring can root out and remove Trojan horses on your device. User education about the risks of downloading unverified software can also prevent accidental installations.
Social engineering
Social engineering is a type of engineering that relies on the psychological manipulation of people into revealing confidential information that they normally wouldn’t disclose, such as through phishing, impersonation, or ruse. According to InQuest.net’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 74% of data compromises involve some form of human manipulation.
Unusual requests for sensitive information and high-pressure tactics are warning signs of this threat. This can be mitigated through user education and training on best practices for security. Exercises that simulate social-engineering scenarios help users recognize and react to threats. Take steps to mitigate these risks through multi-factor authentication and verification of requests for information.
The need to stay alert at all times
The changing nature of the threats means new risks are inherent to our online experience, so we need to stay alert and act to protect ourselves. Make sure your software is kept up to date, browse safely, and use a tool such as WOT to help protect against malicious behavior.
Protecting your personal and business data requires that you stay informed and remain vigilant. Make it your habit to keep your data secure, adopt smart habits to minimize the risks, and remain firm on your safety online.
FAQs
What is the best way to secure a public Wi-Fi connection?
If you want to have a fairly secure connection when using public Wi-Fi, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is your best bet. A VPN encrypts your data, which prevents eavesdroppers from being able to read and misuse confidential or personal information.
How can I prevent phishing attacks?
You must check the authenticity of emails and messages when receiving them, and you must not click on links or provide personal information unless you have done so. You can use security tools, such as WOT, to receive alerts about harmful sites.
Should I be concerned about malware on my mobile device?
Yes. Malware could also infect a mobile device. Keep your apps and operating system up to date, and download apps only from trusted sources, such as official app stores.
What steps can I take to create a strong password?
Come up with passwords that are long and specific (using a combination of letters, numbers and special characters) and stay away from easy guesses such as birthdays or common words. Use a password manager to generate them for you and store them safely.
How can I protect myself from ransomware attacks?
Make sure that important data is regularly backed up and check that your software is updated to reduce the risk of ransomware attacks. Use antivirus software and be wary of opening email attachments or downloading software from unknown sources.